I never could have imagined that our TA would have been this good. We have to remember how strong we are when we are united. Let's keep the unity alive long after we approve this TA. Power to the teachers!

I think it it CRUCIALLY important that we don't lose the momentum of reminding the board and district that we have power. I can live with an adversarial relationship with them, but never a vulnerable one.

Thank you negotiations team, I know that you represented us well through a long and often unrewarded fight.

I am curious why all the other districts that have $0 health insurance premiums for employees have a $10 co pay while ours will be at $20. I'm assuming that this did not go unnoticed so there must be a reason why.

To the Negotiations Team -- Thank you for the hours of frustration, torment, and negativity; you deserve more than mere words! To those administrators who stayed out of all of this, thanks to being invisible! To the parents (P-arents I-n S-upport of T-eachers), thank you for backing those of us in the classrooms educating YOUR children, and lastly, thank you, teachers, for holding fast to the belief that WE DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We are here because we want to teach and reach students. None of us wants to deal with administrivia . . . we want to be paid to do that which we do best! Congratulations to all of the "stake-holders." Yucaipa still deserves the best we have to offer. Now . . . what about that school board?????

"True or False: Our salary increase for next year, in the amount of 3.5 percent, will not be paid to us until after February, 2008 - not retroactive to the beginning of the year - ongoing only?"

Good question.

True. An ongoing salary increase, even if implemented midyear, does two things: it carries over year after year, and it helps count more for retirement. It's a much better option than a smaller salary increase implemented eariler, or a one-time, not-on-schedule bonus.

Look at the settlement this way: On July 1st, your paycheck will be 9.2% higher (due to compounding). Then August 1st (if the District does what it says it will try to do), you'll get a retro check for 2005-06. Then September 2st, you'll get another retro check, for 2006-07. About half of you will also get a step and/or column increase. Then on February 1, you'll get another salary increase. Here's a thought - use the salary bump in February to pay off your Christmas bills!

Really, we tried for more, but 3.5 midyear was truly their bottom line.

THANK YOU YCEA and the negotiation team!!!!! You fought the good fight! Now what about that school board? Perhaps a recall????

To the school board... SHAME ON YOU!!! The teachers in Yucaipa have never been pushed so far to convince you of their value. (This is not a feather in your caps.) Don't underestimate us again. WE know what we are worth!( Mabye now YOU do!)

Though not enough to sour the entire package - which is a reasonable settlement - and truly appreciating the amazing progress realized because of our unity, the raise for 2007-2008 amounts to 1.75 percent for the year.

Might the real impitus for a settlement have been the parent planned sickout, and the district's desire to keep the factfinding report out of the public eye?

Furthermore, the district's willingness to pay for healthcare is understandable considering they will keep roughly two thirds of next year's projected COLA.

I wonder if the interest made off of our "imprisioned" COLA of the last two years will pave a certain road...

1.) Trust2.) Credibility3.) The Moral High Ground4.) Some Truly Great Teachers5.) Community Support6.) (Hopefully, their positions)

We will not let this sort of thing happen ever again. We now know the power of coming together for a common, just cause. Thanks again for all of your hard work, and thanks especially to the Negotiating Team and the Crisis Team.

Now that the District has settled contract negotiations, they can move on to their other self-inflicted crises: Roadless Middle School, Lawsuits brought by parents, low morale etc. Good luck! Thanks again to the negotiating team and crisis committee!

I am so pleased with the outcome of our efforts. However, I am still extremely angry at the board for ignoring us, insulting us, and demeaning us. They chose as well to ignore the community that wanted it's valued teachers appropriatley compensated. Together...teachers and parents...we sent a unified message that we won't accept less than what is right from an elected board. When I think back on it all: Saturdays spent "flyering" the community; endless Crisis Team meetings to discuss "what's next", board meetings filled with verbal abuse ( take note, Patty)and insults,canvassing neighborhoods after long days at school, endless picketing on the streets, keeping quiet about our plight while on school grounds ( but, hey Mitch, it's okay to read a message in class to the students to encourage Monday's attendance?! Who crosses lines now?),nudging weary fellow staff members to hang in there, shirts, buttons, signs, signs and more signs....well, it was all worth it. But for me, and I am hoping many others, the final justice of it all will be when we clear out this board and it's head: Mitch Hovey.Sound angry? I feel I have a right to be. But negotiation team...you are awesome and I will always be grateful you were there. I proudly told my family that when you fight for what you believe in (at least in this case), right will prevail!!

Wow, well said. It has been a long haul. My seven year old child asked me if she could help picket again next year because she thought is was fun, again. I told her we wouldn't be picketing if the teachers vote for the settlement. So then she asked, "why mom, you guys picket every year when it's time for a raise." That right there is what is wrong with this district. My child has grown up thinking it is normal to beg for your raise. I have pictures of her in a stroller from the "double digit fully retro" times. I will move on, but I will never forget what this Board and administration has done to this community!

uokWe should send out a message to parents and businesses thanking them for their support. The yellow and red signs were a constant source of encouragement around town. I even saw a Roadrunner Towing truck that had a digital sign with "I Support Yucaipa Teachers" on it. Perhaps we should encourage those who have our signs to hold on to them for next time. With our Board's history, I'm sure we'll have need of our support network again; that is, unless an election results in some new thinking on the board. It is also far past time for some housecleaning at the District office. Administrators come and go, but the philosophy doesn't seem to improve (It seems to have gotten even worse in recent years).

I hope a lot of students DO stay home today. It would be a lesson to the school board, Mitch and Sherri to not play so dirty with the teachers and community. I am praying I will get to YHS this morning and find out that Mitch has turned in his letter of resignation.

I think someone heard your prayers and said yes. LOL Now let's challenge the district to hire a "leader" who will push for a quick and fair settlement in 08/09, without a battle. OH and let's make it an outstanding one in 08/09, not just a good one. Thank you negotiating and crisis teams for working so hard on our behalf.

Congratulations! We, over here in Hayward, are looking forward to great things in your future. It is a crime that you went that long without a contract, but your unity and strength prevailed. Your students were watching and they are proud of you too!